Difficult Dialogues II: "The Changing Structure of the Family"

In May 2002 Stanford University's Institute for Research on Women and Gender began the second forum in the Difficult Dialogues series, entitled "The Changing Structure of the Family."This series aimed to help individuals and policy makers understand key issues and formulate more informed questions about social and cultural support for families. Most of the public policies about family in America are based on family demographics from 30-40 years ago, demographics that no longer reflect current realities of American family life. The "family" program was developed to establish a direct link between recognized experts on the family and the general public. It was founded on the belief that individuals' choices and public policies will be improved when we get the facts straight.

The "family" forum brought together a panel of experts from Stanford and elsewhere to explore the critical issues facing families in our society and included nationally recognized scholars. Each panelist was carefully selected to ensure that both an interdisciplinary and ideologically diverse perspective is represented. The panel considered the changing cultural and social conditions that affect both the perception and the reality of the American family. The evolution of the family from a traditional nuclear unit to a set of groups with varying biological, financial, social, gender and ethnic bonds is not inherently problematic. However, it does pose profound challenges to policy makers as well as to families that do not fit the tacit assumptions on which policies have been based. Controversy exists regarding such basic issues as the adequacy of certain kinds of parents, and legal conundrums seem inherent in every biomedical advance that affects families. It is essential to understand the ways in which policies differentially influence women, men, and children and will support, or, perhaps will not support, current configurations of a "family." More than ever, there is a need for policy makers to make informed decisions and develop effective policies.

This forum concluded with a public conference entitled "Valuing Families: A Debate Over What Works" held at Stanford University, October 16th. Through the dialogue process, the public forum, a Final Report our "family" forum seeks to ensure that national dialogues are shaped by empirical findings rather than by stereotypes and misconceptions.

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